Combination thumb tack dispenser and applicator



- all! Nov. 21, 1961 J. A. LENIZ 3,009,155

COMBINATION THUMB TACK DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR Filed April 28, 1959 Ii-l nlllllllll Joe A. Len/z INVENTOR.

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3,@ii9,i55 Patented Nov. 21., 1961 3,009,155 EOMBKNATEGN THUMB TACK DISPENSER AND APPLHCATOR Joe A. Leniz, %Leniz Tool Mfg. Co., Inc, R0. Box 2445, Reno, Nev. Filed Apr. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 809,557 4 Claims. (Cl. 1-46) This invention relates to a novel and useful thumb tack dispenser and applicator, and more particularly to a device which is desired to function as a reservoir for thumb tacks from which the same may be individually dispensed and applied.

The main object of this invention is to provide a thumb tack dispenser and applicator which will be capablebf having thumb tacks dispensed therefrom, and one which may be readily refilled after the dispenser has once been emptied.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thumb tack dispenser which will remove tacks from surfaces in which they have been placed, and move them into position within the storage space within the dispenser.

A further object, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a thumb tack dispenser providing a means for the removal of the heads and stems of thumb tacks which have become disconnected from each other while contained in the dispenser.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby only one thumb tack may be positioned to be ejected from the dispenser at a time.

A still further object, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a thumb tack dispenser and applicator provided with a means for cutting individual sheets from a roll of sheet material, so that only two hands and one tool are needed to apply individual sheets cut from a roll of sheet material to a wall surface or the like.

Another object, in accordance with the preceding objects is to provide a means for retaining a thumb tack at the dispensing point of the dispenser until it can be applied to the desired surface.

Still another object, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a thumb tack dispenser and applicator which will lend itself to conventional forms of manufacture.

A still further object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a device which will be comparatively sturdy and durable in construction, and one which will be easy to use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereeinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings formin a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the thumb tack dispenser shown with the top in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the thumb tack dispenser, shown with the hinged top swung back into the open position, parts thereof being broken away, and with a plurality of thumb tacks in position within the channels formed in the hull or storage section of the dispenser;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the front portion of the device with parts of the dispensing end being broken away and showing the thumb tack in the dispensing position;

FEGURE 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the invention taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the device taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the device similar to that of FIGURE 4, but showing the manner in which the cutting edge on the slide is used to cut a piece of material or the like;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the dispensing end of the device showing the manner in which either a staple or a thumb tack may be removed from a surface in which it has been applied; and

FEGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the invention similar to that of FIGURE 4, but showing a thumb tack positioned beneath the dispensing end of the dispenser with its head received in the pocket formed on the undersurface of the dispensing end of the dispenser, in position to be completely applied to the surface in which it has been placed. 7

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral it} generally designates the thumb tack dispenser comprising the present invention. The dispenser it) is generally rectangular in shape and comprises a hull 11 having a bottom wall 12, a top wall 14, a rear wall 16, and side Walls 18. The forward end of the bottom wall 12 terminates in an arcuate upwardly directed portion 2%}, while the forward portion of the top wall 14 terminates in a generally arcuate and upwardly directed endportion 22 which closely overlies arcuate portion 20. The top wall l d may be secured to the hull 11 in any convenient manner such as by hinge 24 so that it may be used as a closure for the dispenser movable into and out of overlying relation thereto.

Bottom wall 12 is disposed between the lower surfaces of side walls 18 and has extending longitudinally therealong, upwardly opening and depending storage channels 28 formed therein. The forward ends of the channels 28 are convergent and terminate into a single delivery channel 29 which is in communication with a dispensing slot 30 which terminates at the forward edge of the dispenser id. The top 14 thus provides a common closure for all of the channels. The dispensing slot 36, communicating with the forward end of the dispenser 10 forms a pair of claws 32. on the forward end of the hull 11.

Formed on one of the claws 32 is an upstanding peg to which is rotatably secured one end of leaf spring 36, the free end of which terminates in the dispensing slot 3t) at its juncture with channel 28. Spring 36 is positioned and secured about peg 34 in such a manner to resiliently restrict the forward passage of an object through the dispensing slot 30, while offering little or no resistance to an object moving rearwardly through the dispensing slot 30 and into the channel 23. The rearward travel of the free end of the spring 36 is restricted by the rearward limits of the opening 38 in the wall of the dispensing slot 34 through which it extends.

The hinged top 14 has formed in its arcuate portion a slide slot 41 which terminates a spaced distance from its forward end and overlies the dispensing slot 30. The rearward end of slide slot 40 terminates a spaced distance behind the spring 36. A slide 4-2, having a reduced downwardly depending portion 44 is slidingly secured within slide slot '40 by means of spring fastener 46 which is secured in close relation to the bottom surface of the top wall 14- about the reduced portion 44 of the slide 42. Also formed on top wall 14 are depending flanges 48 which are positioned on either side of slot 40* and are received when the top 14 is in the closed position within complementary openings 50 formed in each of the claws 32.

Reduced portion 44 extends a suliicient amount below the bottom surface of top 14 so as to be slidingly received within dispensing slot 30 so as to be in a position to urge the movement of an object slidingiy received therein. Formed on one of the confronting Walls of slot 30 is a projection 52 which frictionally engages reduced portion 44 of slide 42 when the latter is positioned behind the juncture of slot 39 and channel 23, so as to frictionally retain slide 42 in position at the rearmost end of slide slot 45).

Thumb tacks 54 are placed with their stems received within channels 28 and with the underside of their heads contacting the upper surfaces of the bottom wall 12. The channels 28 are spaced from each other and are in generally parallel relation so that should the head of a thumb tack 54 become dislodged from its stem, the stem will fall to the bottom of the channel 28 in which the thumb tack was positioned, and the head of the thumb tack will fall also into one of the channels 28. The distance between the upper ends of the channels and the hinged top 14 is sufficient to enable loose thumb tack heads to be tilted, upon engagement of the heads with other thumb tacks, an amount enabling the loose heads to slip down into the channels 28 from where they may pass from within the dispenser through the apertures 56 formed in the bottom of each of the channels 28.

Apertures 56 in the channels 28 allow broken thumb tack stems and heads to fall through the bottom of the hull 11. Thus, should the heads of any of the thumb tacks become dislodged from the stems thereof, the channels 28 will not become clogged so that the sliding movement of the thumb tacks positioned therein will be restrictcd.

Formed on the lower edge of the rear wall 16 is a rearwardly extending flange 58 terminating in a beveled portion 60 which may be used to remove either thumb tacks 54 or staples 55, see FIGURE 3, from a surface to which they have been applied. Also, the forwardmost ends of the claws 32 may be used to remove thumb tacks or the like from a surface in which they have been placed, see FIGURE 8. If the claws 32 are to be used, the tack is first positioned between the claws and pried from the surface. Then, it may be allowed to be moved rearwardly through dispensing slot 30 past spring 36, into channel 29, and then into position in one of the channels 23 in the portion of the dispenser containing the thumb tacks 54.

Formed on the lower end of the reduced portion 44 of the slide 42 is a cutting edge 62 which, as can be seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, when the button is in the forwardmost position in slide slot 40, extends below the lower surface of the arcuate portion 20 of the bottom wall 12 so that the dispenser may be drawn along a piece of paper or the like to cut the same. In this manner, a section of paper or material may be cut from a roll of the same while the cut section is being applied to a wall-like surface by means of thumb tacks dispensed from the dispenser 1t).

Formed on the undersurface of the top wall 14, at the forwardmost end of slide slot 40 is a recessed pocket 64 which is used to position the thumb tack 54, see FIG- URE 4, as it is being first partially applied to a surface. After the thumb tack 54 has been partially applied to a surface, the dispenser 10 is then pulled away from the thumb tack and placed upon the head of the thumb tack, as seen in FIGURE 9, with the latter being received in a second recessed pocket which is formed on the under surface of the jaws a spaced distance from the forward ends thereof. With the dispenser 10 so positioned on the head of a thumb tack 54, the thumb tack may then be completely applied to the surface in which it has been placed.

It is to be understood that any means may be used to retain the top 14 in position upon the upper surface of the hull 11. However, if it is to be hinged, as shown in the drawings, depending lugs 68 may be formed on the side edges of the top 14 adjacent its forward end so that the lugs 68 may frictionally engage the side walls 18 and retain the top wall 14 in position upon the hull 11.

In operation, and assuming that the dispenser 10 has a supply of thumb tacks 54 in position within the channels 28 therein, to dispense a thumb tack 54 from the dispenser 10, the front end of the dispenser is first lowered so that the thumb tacks 54 may slide within channels 28 until a thumb tack is in position resting against the rear surface of spring 36. Slide 42 is then moved forward until the forward end of the reduced portion 44 engages the head of the thumb tack 54 to move the stem of the latter past free end of spring 36 and on down through the dispensing slot 30 until slide 42 reaches the forwardmost extremity of slide slot 40. As can best be seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, when slide 44 reaches the forwardmost extremity of slot 44, the thumb tack 54 has been positioned with its head received within the first recessed pocket 64 formed in the undersurface of the forward end of the top Wall 14. The thumb tack 54 may then be partially applied to a surface. The slide 42 is then moved rearwardly through slot 40 until it reaches the rearwardmost extremity of the latter, and then the dispenser It may be withdrawn from the thumb tack 54 and placed upon the head of the latter with the same being received in the second recessed pocket 66 formed on the undersurface of the arcuate portion of the bottom wall 12 so that it may be further applied to the surface 70, see FIGURE 9. In this manner, thumb tacks 54 may be thus dispensed from the dispenser 10 until the supply thereof contained within the dispenser 10 is exhausted. Since the cutting edge 62 of the reduced portion 44 of the slide 42 does not contact the free end of the spring 36, the button may be moved to the rearward most end of slide slot 40 without engaging spring 36 moving it out of position which would possibly allow a thumb tack 54 to slide past the spring 36 when such action is not desired.

If the dispenser is to be used to remove thumb tacks from a surface, the forwardmost edges of the claws 32 may be engaged beneath the head of the thumb tack 54 and downward motion applied to the rear of the dispenser 16 thereby prying the thumb tack 54 at least partially from the surface to which it has been applied. The dispenser 10 may then be moved forwardly so as to force the head of the thumb tack 54 past the first recessed portion 64 so that it may then be allowed to slide back through dispensing slot 30 and into channel 28 as the dispenser is tilted with its rearward end being inclined downwardly. In this manner, thumb tacks 54 may be removed from surfaces to which they have been applied, and at the same time be placed conveniently within the dispenser 10, then being ready for instant application to another surface. When thumb tacks 54 are being removed from a surface and placed within the dispenser 10, the slide 42 is so positioned so that the projection 52 frictionally engages the side of the reduced portion 44 so as to retain the button 42 in position at the rearwardmost end of the slot 40 to restrict it from sliding forward and interfering with the entrance of thumb tacks 54 through dispensing slot 30 and into the dispenser 10.

The dispenser 10 has many uses and it is to be understood that they are not limited to those specifically enumerated herein. The beveled portion 60 may also be used as a scraping blade and it is to be noted that it is provided with an opening 72, see FIGURES 2 and 3, which may be used to hang the dispenser 10 upon a suitable support;

It can thus be seen that herein described is a combination thumb tack dispenser and applicator which may be used both to conveniently dispense and apply thumb tacks to a surface, and also to remove thumb tacks from surfaces to which they have been applied, the thumb tacks then being slidable into a storage position within the dispenser.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and acordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A thumb tack dispenser comprising a hull having at least one elongated storage channel in the rear portion thereof adapted to slidingly receive the stems of thumb tacks, said storage channel terminating at its forward end in a delivery channel whose extremity comprises a dispensing slot, said dispensing slot extending forwardly from the juncture with said delivery channel through the forward end of said hull and rearwardly from said juncture a spaced distance therefrom, a top wall secured to the upper edges of said hull comprising a closure therefor having a slide slot therein which overlies said dispensing slot but terminates a spaced distance from the forward end thereof, a slide slidingly secured in said slide slot, resilient means at said juncture yieldingly restricting the forward movement of thumb tacks from said delivery channel into said dispensing slot when the forward end of said hull is downwardly inclined and unrestrictingly guiding a thumb tack sliding rearwardly through said dispensing slot into said storage channel when the forward end of said hull is upwardly inclined, said slide having a reduced depending portion thereon slidingly received in said dispensing slot, whereby a thumb tack positioned behind said resilient means in said dispensing slot may be moved forwardly from the juncture of said dispensing slot and said delivery channel through said dispensing slot and ejected from said dispenser.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the topwall extends substantially the entire length of said hull so as to afford free access to said slot and delivery and storage channels, depending lugs on opposite sides of said top wall adapted to frictionally engage the sides of said hull and yieldingly retain said top wall in a closed position on said hull.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a recessed pocket on the undersurface of said hull spaced rearwardly from the forward end thereof adapted to receive and yieldingly retain the head of a thumb tack therein when downward pressure is applied to the forward end of the dispenser.

4. The combination of claim 1 including elongated apertures formed in the bottom of said storage channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 803,372 Thune Oct. 31, 1905 876,086 Pearson Jan. 7, 1908 1,369,420 Gillespie s Feb. 22, 1921 

